Pattern mechanism for quilting - machines



A 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. F. L. PALMER, PATTERN MEGHANIVSM FOR QILTING MAGHINES.

Paten-ted Apr. 20, 1,886.

-Mode1.)

1 m n a 3 Sheets- Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

F. L. PALMER. MTL-:Im MBGHANISM EUR QUILTING MACHINES.

No. 340,349. Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

QNo Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. L. PALMEE.

PATTERN MEUHANISM EUR QUILTING MACHINES. No. 340,349. Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

N, PETERS. Prwmlimognphu. wn-mngm". u. c.

ilNiTan STATES PATENT Trice.

rai-TNRl L. PALMER, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT.

PATTERN lVlECHANlSlVl FOR QUILTlNG-MACHINE".

' PECIFCATIONfOrming part of Letters Patent No. 340,349, dated April 20, 1886.

Application filed December 2%, 1885. Serial No. 186,?430. (No model.)

` To all whom it may concerm.

Beit known that l, FRANK L. PALMER, of the city of New London, in the county of New London and Stateot Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pattern Mechanism for Quilting-ll/Iachines and other Purposes, of which the following is a fp cication.

My invention is more particnlarlyintended for quilting-machines, but may be employed in other machines for controlling the relative change in position between two parts, one of which may be a tool or implement and the other ot' which may be the work or article operated on.

For quilting-machines my invention is applicable to machines comprising asewingmachine and a fabric support or framewhereon the fabric,or that portion thereof' which is at any time being operated upon, maybe held in a stretched or extended condition for the Operation of the needle. In such machines one of the said parts-either the sewing-machine or the fabric support or frame-is movable in order to produce the change in relative.

position between the fabric and the needle necessary to produce sewing in any desired pattern on the fabric, and the movable part is guided or controlled by a pattern mechanism.

Although my invention may be embodied in pattern mechanism in .which the elements arel of different constructions and combinedin different ways, its advantages are most apparent and wili be most clearly understood if embodied in a pattern mechanism ofthe character shown and described in my United Sta-tes Letters Patent No. 308,981. granted December 9, 1884, and in the Letters Patent No. 308,982, granted December 9. 1884, to Wm. H. Palmer, Jr., and I shall therefore describe the invention as embodied in a pattern mechanism of that character. rlhe essential elements of such a pattern mechanism are a toothed or other rack or track arranged in pattern form and a pinion, wheel, Oraother engaging device gearing or engaging with the rack or track, and by its rotary motion or other positive operation effecting the necessary change in relative position between the rack or track andpinion or other engaging device.

When the pattern rack or track is connected with the movable fabric-support, as shown in my prior patent, No. 308,981, hereinabove referred to, the operation ofthe pinion on the pattern rack or track will effect the automatic movement of the fabric under the sewing-machine needle along a line or lines corresponding to the form of the rack or tack, and when the pinion is connected with a movable sewing-machine, as `shown in the prior patent, No. 308,982, to Wm. H. Palmer, Jr., hereinaboverefcrred to, the operation ofthe pinion on the rack or track will effect the movement ofthe sewing-machine needle over the fabric in a line or lines corresponding to the form of the pattern rack or track.

Bed-comfortables and analogous large fabrics of rectangular form are much enhanced in appearance by quilting in patterns which are appropriate to their shape, and the lines of which often cross cach other; and a scemingly intricate pattern in which the lines Ot' sewing are interlaced so as to form a beautiful design may be produced by repeating a simple geometrical ligure in different positions on the fabric. Such patterns would be dificult to produce in their entirety, because dit'- ferent portions of the rack or track would have to be in close proximity at parts of the pattern, and would have frequently to cross or intersect each other; and the object of my invention is to enable an entire design to be produced in quilting on the fabric by the use of a pattern mechanism comprising only a small portion or portions of the design, such portion or portions being so arranged as to be capable of movement either manually or automatically, in order that they will in their different positions combine to produce the complete design on the fabric.

In carrying out my invention I employ a pattern portion capable of movementinto different operative positions, a sl'laft or device connected with the body to be moved, whether it be the sewingmachine or thefabric-support, and engaging with the pattern portion, and a switch or shifting-gear arranged to be operated on by the shaft or device in order to move the pattern portion into different operative positions. I may also employ a movable pattern portion combined` with another pat- IOC tern portion, which may also be movable and shil'tcd by the operation ofthe shaft or device on a switch or shitting-gear, or which may be iixed in position. For example, I may employ a central circular pattern portion and au outer or surrounding pattern portion, one or eat-h portion being' turned relatively to the other portion by the action ol' the shat't or engaging device on a switch or switches, as fully hereinal'ter described.

In order to ell'ect the turning or movement of the rotary pattern portion or portions, I may employ switches or shiltinggear consist ing ot' a rack on the part to be turned and a wheel or sector engaging with the rack and carrying,r a lever or handle on which t-he shaft or engaging device acts to turn the movable portion. I also employ, in connection with the movable pattern portion -or portions, locking devices which engage automatically with the movable portion and are operated on by the" shalt or engaging device to automatically nnlock the movable portion and permit it to be turned.

The invention consists in novel combinations of parts and features ot construction, hereinafter described, and pointed ont in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a plan ol' apattcrn mechanism embodying my invention, and comprising.: inner and outer circular port ions. cach capable of turning relatively to the other. Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views thereot, taken, respectively, on the planes indicated by the dotted lines :vx and y y, Fig. I1. Fig. 4 represents by dotted lines a design which may be ptoduced by the aid ot' thel pattern mechanism shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 isa plan ot' a pattern mechanism also embodying my invention. and 'comprising an inner rotary portion and an outer or surrounding lixed portion. i

Similar letters ot' reference designate corre- Sponding.r parts in all the tigures.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A designates a central circular plate, and l5 an annular plate snrroutnling.r the same. As here represented, these two plates, which may be ot wood or metal. are tnounted upon a base-plate, C, so that they can turn relatively to and independently ol'each other. 'lhe central plate, A, is mounted upon a stud or pivot. a, and the outer plate, B, is held in place by the plate A and by an uptnrned rim. a', on the plate C. The plate A has in or upon ita groove, guide. 0|' channel, b. which is here sh'own as totalled by parallel lianges b b', one of which is plain and the othcrot' which has upon its'innersnrlace a. toothed track or rack. Il". 'lhe outer guide or channel, bili, i: formed by flanges b*, upon one of which isa rack, (ihk, these parts being similar to the groove or channel and rack shown as on the plate A. but dill'erent in form. The only purpose ot' the two plates A B is to support the grooves or guides and racks and the gearing hereinafter described, and hence these plates may be of skeleton construct-ion, and the rack and guide bb may be considered as mounted upon the stud or pivot a, and the rack and guide 11"* Il as adjustable or movable circumlerentially about the rack and guide b2 b.

D designates a shaft having upon its lower end a pinion, c. which enters the groove or guide portions b b* and engages or gears into the rack Iportions b" b"*. By its rotary motion and 'engagement with the rack portions the pinion o will travel along in a path corresponding to the shape oi tlte rack portiotsmnd will impart a corresponding movement to the part with which it is connected, whetherit be the fabric-support or the se\\'ingtnacliine, as is described in the two patents hereinabove referred to. y The two rack portions b b*, or the plates A B bearing them. are geared together by toothed racks (l d*,seeured, respectvely, tothe plates A B, and sectors c e*, pivoted, respectively, by pins or studsf to the platesB A. The sectors e e* are provided with arms o r levers e d", with which the shaft D may engage as the pinion c traverses the rack portions bz Wi.

In order to prevent the accidental turning ot the two plates A B and their rackportions, I provide locking devices whereby they may be locked to the base-plate C. As here represented, these locking devices consist of vertically-movable bolts f/ gti, which are respectively l'ree to slide iny thevplates A B and engage with series ot' holes h It* in the plate C. These bolts are attached to levers g g*, which IOO are i'ulcrumed at t', and are acted upon by springs t" to push the bolts downward into the holes, with which they engage.

I have here shown the shalt D as provided with a broad laterally-extending collar or .tl-ange, c', which, as the shalt D moves adja cent to one ofthe levers g' gi, bears upon the top thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. and by de pressing the tail end of the lever elevates its attached locking-bolt sufficiently to free it from the base-plate C, as alsoshown in Fig. 2.

In the drawings, Fig. 1,. the shalt D is snpposed to be moving in thedirection indicated by the arrow s, and liasjust passed ont of engagement. with the guide and rack portion b* 0"* into engagement with the correspontling parts,b b2. As the shaft enters the guide I; its tinnge c bears on the lever gti, and by depressing it lil'ts the bolt g* ont ot' engagement wit-h the plate C, as seen in Fig. 2. and thereby unlocks the plate B. Bel'ore the flange c releases tie lever t/*t the shal't comes in con tact with the lever or` arm 6*, and by acting thereon turns tlte sector 6*, and through the engagement ot' tite sector with the rack d* turns the. plate B l'orward in the direction indicated by the arrows s', Fig. 1,`and thereby brings the guide and rack portion bi b2* into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, so that the shaft :ttul pinion yDc tnay pass-readily from engagement with the rack portion b'l into engagement with the rack portion bl. The

IXO

3some v s lever and sector 6'* e* are turned into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and as the locking-bolt g l comes above the next hole h= in the base-plate C it falls thereinto and locks the plate B in itsnew position. Before the shaft and pinion D c leave the guide and rack portion b b", the flange cstrikes upon the lever g', and thereby unlocks the center plate, A, and as soon as the shaft D enters the guide b* it comes in contact with the lever e ofthe sector e, and by its action thereon and through the rack d turns the plate A one step ahead in the direction of the arrows s, Fig. 1, in order to bring the end of the guide portion b at which the shaft D enters it into coincidence with the end of the guide b* at which the shaft D leaves it, in the new position which the guide portion bf then occupies. By the turning ofthe plate Ain the direction indicated by the arrows s2, the sector and lever e* 6'* will be returned from the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1 to the position shown by full lines, ready for the next operation ofthe shaft D upon it. In like manner, when the sector and lever e* 6'* are operated to turn the plate B in the directionindicated by the arrows s', the sector e and lever e' will be returned automatically from the position shownin full lines in Fig. 1 to their position, as indicated by dotted lines, ready for the next operation of the shalt D thereon.

From the above description it will be seen that the two plates A B are thus moved step by step and alternately until they have completed their circuits, and` thereby the needle of the sewing-machine will have been caused to produce on the fabric a design of the form shown in Fig. 4, and which is made entirely by repetitions of the figure in which the rack and guide portions b2 bii' bb* are laid out. It will also be understood that the whole design may be produced without once breaking the thread.

rlhe example of my invention shown in Fig. 5 comprises au linnercircnlar pattern portion, A, capable of rotation about the axis a, and a surrounding fixed pattern portion, B. The rotary portion A comprises a guide, b, formed by two flanges. b b', arrangedin pattern form, and on one ot' whichis a toothed rack or track, b". The pattern portion B comprises a number of duplicate guides, bfi, arranged around its circumference, and formed by flanges b*, on one of which is a toothed rack or track, bw. WVhen the central movable pattern portion is turned in the direction indicated by the arrows s'f, the ends ofthe rack portion b'2 are snccessively brought into coincidence with the ends ofthe rack portions bff. so that the pinion and shaftD may readily pass from engagement with one into engagement with the other of them.

In each ofthe figures or parts of figures formed by the racks or tracks bil there is a short vertical shaft or pin, f, carrying below the portion B a pinion, e, engaging with a wlieel or gear-teeth, yd, formed around the edge of the central rotary portion, A, and on each shaft or pinfabove the portion B is a ratchet-wheel, j. Loose on each shaft or pin f is a lever or handle, e', carrying a pawl, j', engaging the wheel j,and acted on by aspring, ji, to swing it in the direction indicated by the arrows s and against a stop, j. I have also shown on the portion A a lockiiig-lever, g', the end of which engages successively with a circular series of notches, it, in the part B, and which are equal in number to the several different positions of the central rotary por tion, A. The locking-lever g is acted upon by a spring, i, to force its tooth automatically into the notches h and hold the portion A against accidental turning.

As shown in the drawings. Fig. 5, the shaft D is in the pattern portion B, but is just about entering the portion A. As it nears the end of the guide b in the part A the shaft D will strike the locking-lever g and unlock the part A, and before the lever g is released the shaft D will strikethe adjacent lever e',and,.through the paw] j. ratchet-wheel j, and shaft f and pinion @,Will turn the central portion, A, into its next operative position, and whenl it reaches such position the locking-lever will make engagement with the next notch, h, and lock the portion A against accidental turning.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the racks d dit, the sectors and pinions e, and the levers e constitute switches or shifting-gear for changing antoniatirally the position of the movable pattern portion or portions.

What l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is

l. In a pattern mechanism, the combination, with a pattern portion capable of movement into different operative positions, of a shaft or device engaging therewith and a switch or shifting-gear to be acted upon by the shaft or device to move the pattern portion into different operative positions, substantially as herein described.

2. In a pattern mechanism, the combination, with two pat-tern portions, one of which is movable into different operative positions relatively to the other, of a shaft 0r device engaging therewith and a switch or shiftinggear to be acted upon by the shaft or device to shift the movable pattern portion into different operative positions, substantially as herein described.

3. ln a pattern meclianisni,tlie combination, with a pattern portion capable of movement into different operative positions, of a shalt or device engaging therewith. a switch or shifting-gear to be act-ed ou by the shaft or device to move the pattern portion into different cperative positions, and a locking device for securing the pattern portion against accidental movement, substantially as herein described.

4'. ln a pattern mechanism,the combination, with a pattern portion capable of movement v relatively to the other or others in order to into different operative positions. ofashaft or device engaging therewith, a switch or shifting-gear to be acted on by the shaft or device to move the pattern portion into diti'etentoperative positions, and an automatic locking device for holding the pattern portion against accidental movement, andacted upon by the shalt or device to unlock the pattern portion, substantially as herein described.

5. In a pattern mechanism, the com bination, with a pattern portion capable of movement into different operative positions, ofashaft or device engaging therewith, and a switch or shiftinggear consisting of a rack and gearsector, and a lever on which the shaft or de vice acts to shift the movable pattern portion into different operative positions, substantially as herein described.

6. In a pattern mechanism, the combination of pattern portions, one of which is movable make connection therewith when in the dif ferent positions to which it is moved, substantially as herein described.

7. In a pattern mechanism, the combination of two pattern portions, each being movable relatively to the other in order to make connection with each other when in different positions, substantially as herein described.

S. In a pattern mechanism,thecombination, with two pattern portions, of a shaft or device for engaging therewith, one ot' said pattern portions heilig movabie relatively to the other to bring their ends into coincidence when in different positionsrelatively to each other, so that the shaft or device may pa s from one to the other of them while in different relative positions, substantially as herein described.

9. In apattern mechanism, the combination, with two pattern portions, of a shaft or device for engaging therewith, each pattern portion heilig movable relatively to the other to bring their ends into (.'oincidence when in ditferent positions, so that the shaft or device may pass from one to the other of them when in their diii'erent positions, substantially as herein de scribed.

l0. lu a pattern mechanism, the combination, with two pattern portions, of a shaft or device for engaging therewith, each pattern portion being movable relatively to the other to bring their ends into coincidence when in different operative positions, so that the shaft or device may pass from one to the other of them, and switches or shifting-gear to be acted upon by the shaft or dev ice to shift the niovable pattern portions into their different operative positions, substantially as herein' described. i

1l. In a pattern i'nechanisni, the combina-A tion of two rotary pattern portions, to be turned each indepernlently ofthe other, where by they may be made to register one with the other in diii'erent positions, substantially as herein described.

tion of a central 12. In a pattern mechanism, the combination, with two rotary pattern portions, each comprising a groove or guide, and arranged to be turned each independent of the other, whereby the two grooves or gnideswill be made to coincide or register one with the other alternately at opposite ends thereof and in different positions arotmd the center of the pattern, substantially as herein described.

13. In a pattern mechanism. the combinarotary portion, consisting of a track in pattern form, and an outer or snrrounding rotary portion, also consisting ofa track in pattern form. the two rotary portions being arranged to be turned independently of each other, whereby they may be made to register `one with another in different positions around the center, substantially as herein described.

14. In a pattern mechanism, the combination of a central rotary portion and an outer rotary portion arranged to turn independently ofeach other, whereby they may be made to register one with another in different positions around the center, a shaft or device engaging said pattern portions, and switches or shifting-gear connected with the pattern portions and arranged to be operated by the shaft or device while in engagement with one pattern portion to turn the. other automatically to a new position, substantially as herein described.

l5. Ina pattern mechanism, the combination of central and surrounding pattern por tions, arranged to be turned cach independently of the other, whereby they may be made to register one with another in different positions, a shaft or device engaging said pattern portions, switches or shitting-gear connected with the pattern portions and arranged to be operated by the shaft or device while in engagement with one pattern portion to turn the other automatically to a new position, and locking devices for holding the pattern portionsagainstaccidentalturning, and arranged to be operated by the shaft or device to unlock the pattern portions at the desired times, substantially as herein described.

16. ln a pattern mechanism, theA combination, with inner and outer rotary pattern portions, arranged to be turned one independently ot' the other, and a shaft or device engaging with said pattern portions, of lockinglevers and attach the shaft or device operates while in engagement with one pattern portion to unlock the other pattern portion and permit of its turning to a new position, substantially as herein described.

FRANK L. PALMER.

Vittnesses: V C. HALL, Fenna. Haynes.

ed locking-bolts upon which IIC 

